Smokers&#39; or the like lighters



June 18, 1963 J. A. GODDARD 3,093,990

SMOKERS OR THE LIKE LIGHTERS Filed March 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Horney:

June 18, 1963 J. A. GODDARD 3,093,990

SMOKERS OR THE LIKE LIGHTERS lnvenlor J65? Goddard A tforney:

through a suitable inlet valve.

United States Patent 3,093,990 SMOKERS OR THE LIKE LIGHTERS John A. Goddard, Ashtead, England, assignor by mesne assignments, to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J.,

a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 644,051 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 6, 1956 7 Claims. (Cl. 67-71) The present invention relates to smokers or the like lighters of the kind in which a fuel, such as butane, which is gaseous at normal temperature and pressure, is used. For use in such lighters the fuel is normally supplied in containers or cartridges under pressure in liquified form and is fed to the fuel chamber of the lighter in that form However, unless appropriate provision is made dilficulty is experienced in adequately filling or refilling the fuel chamber of the lighter due to the back pressure created by expansion of some of the fuel in the chamber. Furthermore, if too much fuel can be persuaded to enter the fuel chamber a dangerous condition may be created if the lighter is heated subsequently. An additional disadvantage is that overfilling of the fuel chamber tends to impair the efficiency of the outlet or burner valve.

To overcome these disadvantages it has been proposed to supply the fuel in containers or cartridges containing just sufiicient fuel for one filling of the fuel chamber of the lighter and a pressurising medium for forcing the fuel into the fuel chamber. It has also been proposed to supply the fuel in containers or cartridges made of a medium, such as a transparent plastic material, which will transmit heat, for example, from the hand, to cause the fuel to expand thereby generating enough pressure to force it into the fuel chamber. It has further been proposed to provide the lighter with a complex inlet valve of critical manufacturing tolerances and of such construction that the interior of the fuel chamber is vented to atmosphere during the filling operation.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved lighter of the kind referred to with simple venting means such that the operation of filling or refilling the fuel chamber with fuel may be efiiciently controlled in a simple and inexpensive manner.

With this object in view the present invention consists in a smokers or the like lighter of the kind referred to comprising a valve separate from the normal inlet valve for venting the interior of the lighter to atmosphere during the operation of filling or refilling the fuel chamber of the lighter. This separate venting valve, when open, ensures an effective pressure differential between the fuel in the fuel container or cartridge-which is at the vapour pressure of the fueland the interior of the fuel chamber which, due to the venting passage, remains at a pressure lower than the vapour pressure.

The separate venting valve may be brought into operation automatically as the inlet valve is moved to its open position to permit fuel to flow from a fuel container or cartridge into the fuel chamber of the lighter or may be operated entirely independently of the operation of the inlet valve, for example manually or automatically upon actuation or manipulation of another part of the lighter, e.g. removal or rotation of a bottom plate.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings in which several forms of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a smokers lighter according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a modi- "ice fied form of smokers lighter according to the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a further modified form of smokers lighter according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a still further modified form of smokers lighter according to the present invention and FIGS. 5, 6, 7 are shematic views illustrating yet another modified form of smokers lighter according to the present invention.

Forms of inlet valves for lighters of the kind referred to have been proposed in which a part of the valve has imparted to it a rectilinear, rotary or both a rectilinear and a rotary movement upon connection to the valve of a fuel container or cartridge and in some contemplated forms of the present invention it is proposed to utilize such movement of a part of the inlet valve to actuate an auxiliary valve for venting the interior of the fuel chamber. One such form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which the auxiliary valve 1 is provided on the fuel chamber 2 of the lighter below but on the same side thereof as the inlet valve 3 so that its plunger 4 may be directly operated by the movable, in this case, rectilinearly movable, part 5 of the inlet valve 3. The plunger 4 has an enlarged head 6 reciprocable in an opening 7 in the valve body and is biased, e.g. by a helical spring 8, into engagement with the movable part 5 of the inlet valve 3. The reciprocating movements of the enlarged head 6 control the opening and closing of a port 9 connected to a tube 10 the outlet from is located at an appropriate position in the fuel chamber 2. The opening 7 in the valve body also has a port 11 connected by a passage 12 to atmosphere and the arrangement is such that upon connection of a fuel container or cartridge to the inlet valve 3 the movable part 5 of the inlet valve 3 moves to the left and through the plunger 4 moves the enlarged head 6 to the left sufiiciently to interconnect the ports 9 and 11 with the result that the fuel chamber is connected to atmosphere via the tube 10, the interior of the opening 7 and passage 12. On withdrawal of the fuel container or cartridge from the inlet valve 3 the plunger 4 and its head 6 are returned to normal position as shown in FIG. 1 under the influence of the bias imposed on them by spring 8. In this position the head 6 seats against the resilient sealing ring 13 at the right hand end of the opening 7 and interconnection between the ports 9 and 11 is interrupted.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 2 the auxiliary valve 1 comprises a rotatable member 14 provided With a transverse hole 15 for connecting together and disconnecting the tube 10 and the passage 12 in the auxiliary valve casing. The rotatable member 14 is connected eg by engagement of a square shank l6 thereon with a suitably shaped portion of a part 17 of the inlet valve 3 which in this case has rotary movement imparted to it when the fuel container or cartridge is connected thereto.

In the further modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the auxiliary valve 1 has a valve member 18 having a conical head 19 which is normally maintained in engagement with its seat 20, i.e. in closed position by means of a helical spring 21. In the form of the invention shown the spring 21 bears at one end against the head 19 of the valve member 18 and at its other end against a plug 22 screw threaded into engagement with the casing of the valve and provided with a passage 23 connecting the interior of the valve casing to atmosphere. Conveniently in this case the valve 1 is located on the same Wall of the lighter as, but to one side of the inlet valve 3. A lever 24 is pivotally connected at 25 on the casing of the valve 1 as shown and one end thereof co-operates with the rectilinearly movable part 26 of inlet valve 3 and the other end co-operates with the stem of the valve member 18. It will thus be seen that when a fuel container or cartridge is connected to the inlet valve 3, the part 26 thereof moves rectilinearly to the left to rock the lever 24 about its pivot 26 and cause the other end of the lever 24 to push the stem of the valve member 18 to the right against the bias of spring 21, thereby moving the conical head 19 away from its seat 20 and placing the fuel chamber 2 of the lighter into communication with the atmosphere.

In the still further modified form of the invention shown schematically in FIG. 4 the auxiliary valve 1 is entirely separate from the inlet valve 3 and is adapted for operation manually at the appropriate times. In this case the auxiliary valve 1 is provided on the same wall, e.g., the base of the lighter as, but to one side of, the inlet valve 3. As shown the valve 1 comprises a stem 27 provided at its opposite ends with plate like enlargements 28, 29. The plate like enlargement 28 normally bears on a sealing ring 30 located in a recess in the valve casing under the influence of spring 31 which bears at one end against the enlargement 29 and at the other end against the valve casing. Upon exerting pressure on the enlargement 29 to move it against the action of spring 31 the enlargement 28 is moved away from the sealing ring 3% and the fuel chamber 2 is placed in communication with the atmosphere, it being understood that the valve stem 27 and its enlargements 28, 29 are a loose fit in the valve casing. If desired a cover or false bottom plate 32 may be snapped into position over the bottom plate of the lighter to hide the valves 1 and 3 in normal use of the lighter.

In yet another modified form of the invention shown schematically in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the auxiliary valve 1 comprises a ball 33 which co-operatcs on the one hand with an aperture 34 of appropriate form e.g. a square aperture, in the base of the lighter to vent the fuel chamber 2 to atmosphere and on the other hand with a sealing ring 35 and a member 36 pivotally mounted on the base of the lighter to seal the fuel chamber. A helical spring 37 acts on the ball 33 so that when the pivoted member 36 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 the ball is pressed by the spring 37 into engagement with the edge of the aperture 34 and the fuel chamber 2 is placed in communication with the atmosphere via the passage 38 in the valve casing and the spaces between the surface of the ball 33 and the edges of the aperture 34. However, when the member 36 is moved into alignment with the base of the lighter as shown in FIG. 7 the ball is pressed against the sealing ring 35 by the member 36 and communication between the fuel chamber 2 and the atmosphere is interrupted.

I claim:

1. A smokers lighter of the kind referred to comprising a casing constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure, an inlet valve and a valve separate from said inlet valve for venting the interior of the lighter to atmosphere during the operation of filling or refilling the fuel chamber of the lighter through said inlet valve, said venting valve being mounted on said casing at a point physically displaced with respect to the structure of said inlet valve, and having a fuel venting passage communicating with the outer atmosphere at a point also physically displaced from the structure of said inlet valve, said casing having a wall portion mounted thereon so as to be movable between positions respectively overlying and exposing said inlet valve, said Wall portion and venting valve including means whereby said last mentioned valve is moved to its venting position when said wall portion moves to inlet valve exposing position.

2. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, a first wall of said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for selectively controlling the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, a second wall of said casing having supported thereon an inlet valve including an outer valve member in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve including an outer valve member mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said outer valve member of said inlet valve, said venting Valve having a hollow portion of its outer valve member extending within said casing a predetermined distance to limit the level of liquid gas in said casing, and said hollow portion of said venting valve being in communication with the interior of said casing and the atmosphere whereby the interior of said casing may be selectively vented to atmosphere during the charging thereof with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

3. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, a first wall of said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for selectively controlling the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, a second wall of said casing having supported thereon an inlet valve including an outer valve member in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve including an outer valve member mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said outer valve member of said inlet valve, said venting valve having a hollow portion of its outer valve member extending within said casing a predetermined distance to limit the level of liquid gas in said casing, said hollow portion of said venting valve being in communication with the interior of said casing and the atmosphere whereby the interior of said casing may be selectively vented to atmosphere during the charging thereof with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure and lever means interconnecting said inlet and venting valves whereby said venting valve is opened upon actuation of said inlet valve to vent the interior of said casing to the atmosphere.

4. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, a first Wall of said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for selectively controlling the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, a second wall of said casing having supported thereon an inlet valve including an outer valve member in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve including an outer valve member supported on said second wall of said casing at a position spaced from said outer valve member of said inlet valve, said venting valve having a hollow portion of its outer valve member extending within said casing a predetermined distance to limit the level of liquid gas in said casing and said hollow portion of said venting valve being in communication with the interior of said casing and the atmosphere whereby the interior of said casing may be selectively vented to atmosphere during the charging thereof with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pres sure.

5. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, a first wall of said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for selectively controlling the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, a second wall of said casing having supported thereon an inlet valve including an outer valve member in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve including an outer valve member supported in said casing at a position spaced from said outer valve member of said inlet valve, said venting valve having its outer valve member fixed with respect to said casing, a terminal portion of said outer valve member of said venting valve extending Within said casing and including an orifice spaced from said second wall a predetermined distance to define a cushioning gas chamber in said casing, sealing means in said venting valve for selectively venting the interior of said casing to the atmosphere during the charging of said casing with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

6. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, a first Wall of said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for selectively controlling the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, a second wall of said casing having supported thereon an inlet valve in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve supported in said casing at a position spaced from said inlet valve, said venting valve having an outer valve member fixed with respect to said casing, a terminal portion of said outer valve member extending within said casing and including an orifice spaced from said second wall to define a cushioning gas chamber in said casing, sealing means in said venting valve for selectively venting the interior of said casing to the atmosphere during the charging of said casing with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, the outer valve member of said venting valve being removably secured to said casing, said sealing means comprising a spring biased inner valve member axially disposed within said outer valve member for seal- 5 ing said orifice whereby the interior of said casing may be selectively vented to the atmosphere during the charging of said casing with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure to thereby control the ratio of liquid to gas Within the interior of said casing by actuating said inner valve member.

7. A gas lighter comprising a casing constructed to hold gas in liquid form under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure, said casing having supported thereon a burner valve, said burner valve including means for limiting the flow of gas under pressure from said casing, said casing also having supported thereon at a position spaced from said burner valve an inlet valve including an outer valve member in communication with the interior of said casing whereby liquid gas under pressure may be selectively introduced into said casing, said inlet valve including means for preventing the escape of gas and liquid from the interior of said casing, a venting valve including an outer valve member mounted in said casing at a position spaced from said outer valve member of said inlet valve and from said burner valve, said venting valve having a hollow portion of its outer valve member extending within said casing a predetermined distance to limit the level of liquid gas in said casing and said hollow portion of said venting valve being in communication with the interior of said casing and the atmosphere whereby the interior of said casing may be selectively vented to atmosphere during the charging thereof with liquid gas under pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,163 Zellweger June 15, 1956 146,594 Kennedy Jan. 20, 1874 1,145,252 Mathews July 6, 1915 1,669,022 Root May 8, 1928 1,968,141 Green July 31, 1934 2,064,584 Aronson Dec. 15, 1936 2,465,643 Goss Mar. 29, 1949 2,529,275 Blumer Nov. 7, 1950 2,594,755 Felt Apr. 29, 1952 2,720,098 Wagner Oct. 11, 1955 2,769,325 Storch Nov. 6, 1956 

2. A GAS LIGHTER COMPRISING A CASING CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD GAS IN LIQUID FORM UNDER PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, A FIRST WALL OF SAID CASING HAVING SUPPORTED THEREON A BURNER VALVE, SAID BURNER VALVE INCLUDING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID CASING, A SECOND WALL OF SAID CASING HAVING SUPPORTED THEREON AN INLET VALVE INCLUDING AN OUTER VALVE MEMBER IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING WHEREBY LIQUID GAS UNDER PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE MAY BE SELECTIVELY INTRODUCED INTO SAID CASING, SAID INLET VALVE INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF GAS AND LIQUID FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING, A VENTING VALVE INCLUDING AN OUTER VALVE MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID CASING AT A POSITION SPACED FROM SAID OUTER VALVE MEMBER OF SAID INLET VALVE, SAID VENTING VALVE HAVING A HOLLOW PORTION OF ITS OUTER VALVE MEMBER EXTENDING WITHIN SAID CASING A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TO LIMIT THE LEVEL OF LIQUID GAS IN SAID CASING, AND SAID HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID VENTING VALVE BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING AND THE ATMOSPHERE WHEREBY THE INTERIOR OF SAID CASING MAY BE SELECTIVELY VENTED TO ATMOSPHERE DURING THE CHARGING THEREOF WITH LIQUID GAS UNDER PRESSURE IN EXCESS OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. 